A teacher at a middle school in the Mounds View school district is on paid administrative leave after allegations that she made a threatening remark to a student.

Sixth-grade science teacher Liz Tuma reportedly told 11-year-old Anthony Hernandez she was going to shoot him if he answered another question incorrectly while he was in her class at Chippewa Middle School on Thursday, Nov. 15, according to Anthony’s mother, Sarah Hernandez.

“She said she was kidding, but that is just not acceptable… if my son was to say, ‘Hey, if you don’t give me a good grade I am going to shoot you,’ he would be suspended,” Hernandez said.

The district confirmed that a student made a complaint against Tuma and that the teacher was placed on leave pending the outcome of the district’s investigation into the incident, according to Colin Sokolowski, public relations director for the Mounds View school district.

“We are trying to get all the facts sorted out,” Sokolowski said. He added district staff is working with the student and his family to ensure “they feel safe.”

Tuma has been a teacher in the Mounds View school district since 1994. She has no records of complaints or disciplinary action in her personnel file, Sokolowski said.

Hernandez said she also reported the incident to the Ramsey County sheriff’s office.

Spokesman Randy Gustafson said an officer was investigating a report made Thursday afternoon regarding harassing or threatening behavior at a location in North Oaks but said no arrests had been made.

Privacy laws prevented him from providing further details for the time being, Gustafson said.

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